Following the implementation of the Italian Borders Working Table (IBWT) project with the MultiRegional Coupling (MRC) in February 2015, the launch of coupling operations of the Bulgarian bidding zone in the IBWT regional framework is the next step towards the achievement of the single day-ahead European electricity market, which is expected to reach its completion this year with the connection of the 4M MC borders with MRC through the Interim Coupling project and finally through the Bulgarian – Romanian market coupling project on the common border.
The Bulgaria – Greece Market Coupling Project, was launched as a part of the IBWT regional project with the official IBWT SC decision on the 1st of March 2020. All the involved parties followed the mutually agreed planning and completed successfully all the preparations for the testing, which will take place between 16 March and 30 April 2021. The project testing phase will also include member tests at the end of April, for which additional communication will be distributed.
IBEX in its capacity of NEMO for the Bulgarian electricity market, and ESO as Bulgarian TSO are already operating the Bulgarian electricity market in isolated mode, but in full compliance with the MRC procedures and using the Price Coupling of Regions (PCR) assets, since January 2016. For the Bulgarian NEMO, TSO, local generators, consumers and traders, this project represents the first ever possibility in the day-ahead time frame to join the EU common market and to benefit from the possibilities that the electricity markets integration and the EU target model are offering.
In this context, the expected Go-live for the extension of the SDAC (MRC) to the BG-GR border, is scheduled for 11 May 2021 (with 1st delivery day 12 May) subject to the positive confirmation on the finalization of the testing activities and the relevant approvals by the Greek and Bulgarian NRAs.
About SDAC
SDAC allocates scarce cross-border transmission capacity in the most efficient way by coupling wholesale electricity markets from different regions through a common algorithm, simultaneously taking into account cross-border transmission constraints, thereby maximising social welfare. The aim of SDAC is to create a single pan European cross zonal day-ahead electricity market. An integrated dayahead market increases the overall efficiency of trading by promoting effective competition, increasing liquidity and enabling a more efficient utilisation of generation resources across Europe.
For additional information on SDAC go to:
http://www.nemo-committee.eu/sdac
https://www.entsoe.eu/network_codes/cacm/implementation/sdac/
About Nord Pool
Nord Pool, Europe’s leading power market, delivers efficient, simple and secure trading across Europe. The company offers day-ahead and intraday trading, clearing and settlement to customers regardless of size or location. Today 360 companies from 20 countries trade on Nord Pool’s markets.
Nord Pool operates markets in the Nordic and Baltic regions, Germany, Poland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and the UK. Nord Pool is a Nominated Electricity Market Operator (NEMO) in 15 European countries, while also servicing power markets in Croatia and Bulgaria. In 2019 Nord Pool had a total turnover of 494 TWh traded power. The company has offices in Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, London and Berlin.
Nord Pool has 25 years of power market experience built on offering flexibility, transparency, innovation, greater choice and participation to our customers.
Oslo, 9 March 2021
For further information, please contact:
Stina Johansen, +47 916 50 603 - [email protected]